CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 162

Shibi and Shino didn’t linger for long.

Kitazawa had already said everything that needed to be said—their visit was simple: to express gratitude.

"Kitazawa-sensei, please accept this small gift as a token of our appreciation," Shibi said, handing over a scroll.

"Thank you."

After a brief pause, Kitazawa accepted. He knew that only by taking the gift would the Aburame clan feel at ease.

Once father and son had left, Kitazawa unrolled the scroll and examined its contents. Inside were a variety of ninja tools, secret chakra-restoring medicines, and—most surprisingly—five million ryō.

"Ninja clans really are wealthy," he muttered with a wry smile.

Still, the Aburame weren’t at a loss. The explosive insects were worth far more than that. Even twenty million wouldn’t have been an exaggeration. But since Kitazawa had only provided clues rather than the creatures themselves, five million was a fair exchange.

For him, that amount was more than enough to last a long time. After all, he wasn’t like Tsunade, constantly gambling herself into debt.

Once he confirmed that the Will Of Fire club’s preparations were in order, Kitazawa made his way to the Academy training grounds.

His shadow clone was busy pelting Sasuke with sharpened leaves.

Kitazawa watched quietly for a while before nodding in approval.

Sasuke’s natural talent was undeniable. In just a week, he had adapted to the leaf training—progress far quicker than Hinata’s had been in the past.

But talent alone wasn’t enough. Awakening the Sharingan required more than precision drills; it demanded an emotional spark strong enough to shake the heart.

Kitazawa stroked his chin. ’Another eating contest?’

No, the effect wouldn’t hit as hard the second time. He’d have to find something new.

Leaving the thought for later, he walked over to the artificial lake to practice Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet. Not far off, Kiba Inuzuka was sweating through his own Shadow Clone drills.

The next morning, Friday.

Naruto woke up early, scarfed down breakfast, and rushed to the Academy. For once, he skipped Gai’s morning training.

Today, after all, was a Will Of Fire club event—and as head of the External Affairs Department, he had to be early.

"Sasuke!"

To his surprise, Sasuke had beaten him there.

"Hm." Sasuke spared him a glance, indifferent as ever.

"Did you get the prizes?" Naruto asked eagerly.

"They’re in here." Sasuke pulled out a scroll.

"Let me see!" Naruto snatched it immediately.

"You don’t even know how to use a summoning scroll?" Sasuke asked flatly, watching him fumble.

"Nope," Naruto admitted.

"Give it here." Sasuke took it back, unsealed the scroll, and with a puff of smoke, a small mountain of prizes appeared before them.

"Whoa!" Naruto’s eyes lit up. "Sasuke, you’re amazing!"

"Really?" A faint smirk tugged at Sasuke’s lips. "This is just average."

"You two sure are early."

The voice came from Hana Inuzuka, with Kiba trailing behind.

"Kiba? Why are you here?" Naruto asked, puzzled.

"What do you mean ’why’?" Kiba snapped back. "What do you think my relationship with Hana is?"

"Eh?" Naruto blinked. "Wait—you two are siblings?!"

"Are you just figuring that out now?" Kiba scoffed.

Sasuke subtly looked away. Truth was, he hadn’t realized either.

"How are you talking to the head of external affairs like that?" Hana barked, jabbing her elbow into Kiba.

"Huh?" Kiba’s face was a mess of confusion.

"Call him ’Leader’." Hana glared.

"...Naruto-Leader," Kiba ground out through clenched teeth.

"Hahaha! Kiba, no need to be so formal!" Naruto laughed, sounding suspiciously like an Uchiha about to cackle.

"I wasn’t trying to be polite!" Kiba grumbled. ’This guy’s so full of himself—annoying!’

"Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura came running like a butterfly in spring. Behind her trailed Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.

"Why are we helping too?" Shikamaru yawned.

"Didn’t you join the Will Of Fire club?" Choji asked around a mouthful of chips.

"Ino signed me up without asking," Shikamaru muttered.

"What? You got a problem with that?" Ino shot back, fists clenched.

"I-I didn’t say that!" Shikamaru quickly backtracked. "I just mean there are already too many people here. Our help isn’t needed."

"Perfect!" Naruto beamed. "You’re the smartest one here—help us make some tricky questions!"

Shikamaru froze. ’Oh, you want tricky? Fine. I’ll give you problems no one in this entire academy can solve.’ His eyes sharpened with unexpected fire.

"...Since when does Naruto motivate people that easily?" Ino blinked.

Meanwhile, Hana called Choji over. "Help me build the contestant stage. You’re stronger than the rest combined."

"Sure," Choji said, smiling warmly as he set aside his chips.

By nine o’clock, everything was ready, and the knowledge competition began. Students of every grade crowded the training ground.

"Everyone, please settle down! I’ll explain the rules first."

Hana stood on stage, voice carrying across the field. The rules were simple: ten questions, one minute each. Get one wrong, and you’re eliminated. The more correct answers, the better the prizes.

As the competition began, Kitazawa waited at the Academy gates for Hiruzen.

Of course, punctuality was a privilege reserved for Hokage. Kitazawa had been waiting more than ten minutes before the old man finally arrived.

"Apologies, something came up," Hiruzen said as soon as they met.

"You’re right on time—the activity’s just started," Kitazawa replied smoothly.

Together they entered the training ground.

"It’s lively," Hiruzen said, smiling at the excitement around them. "It’s good to hold activities like this now and then."

The Academy had never had such events before; war had kept everyone too busy and too tense. But with peace finally here, the time was right.

His thoughts turned briefly to Kitazawa’s idea of Psychological Medical System. Even Tsunade’s hemophobia had proven that wounds of the mind were as crippling as those of the body.

"Hokage-sama is here!" someone cried.

Instantly, a wave of children rushed toward him.

"Careful, don’t push," Hiruzen urged kindly. "I’m only here to watch, like the rest of you."

Kitazawa, about to intervene, paused. Instead, he glanced at Naruto and Sasuke.

"Student Council, maintain order."

"Leave it to me!" Naruto declared, rallying the others to guide the crowd back.

When the students finally returned to their places, Naruto trotted back. "Grandpa Third, are you okay?"

"I’m fine." Hiruzen patted his head warmly. "You did very well."

Strength alone wasn’t enough to be Hokage—you had to be able to command others. That was why Hiruzen had never supported Danzo. The man was too far removed from the common ninja and villagers to ever earn their loyalty.

Looking at Naruto, Hiruzen thought of Minato. He had been the ideal Hokage. Even over Orochimaru, he had never hesitated to support Minato.

Kitazawa, observing silently, knew his plan was working. After today, Hiruzen would have no reason to disband the Student Council. Mission success.

Back on stage, the competition continued.

"The second question: Who spread the belief in the Will of Fire?" Hana asked the boy before her.

"The Third Hokage!" the boy answered instantly, eyes shining.

"Correct!" Kiba announced. "You advance!"

Hiruzen turned to Kitazawa, amused. "Who came up with these questions?"

"Sasuke and Naruto," Kitazawa answered. "The teachers didn’t intervene."

Hiruzen chuckled. "Excellent... truly excellent inheritors of the Will of Fire."

The knowledge competition was split into two sessions: morning and afternoon.

With nearly the entire Academy signing up, one morning was nowhere near enough.

"That’s plenty for now," Hiruzen finally said after watching the contest for over two hours.

"I’ll walk you out," Kitazawa offered, though he wasn’t surprised. The Hokage’s schedule was far too heavy for him to linger all day over something as small as a student competition.

"Hokage-sama, what do you think of the event?" Kitazawa asked carefully.

"Though there are a few flaws, for children of their age, it’s already remarkable," Hiruzen replied with a broad smile.

"I’ll pass that along to them," Kitazawa chuckled. "They’ll be thrilled for days."

"Don’t exaggerate," Hiruzen waved him off. "Their success is thanks to your efforts."

"I only did a little," Kitazawa answered modestly.

Hiruzen slowed his steps. "It seems the Student Council truly is a valuable addition to the Academy. It can continue."

Kitazawa let out a quiet breath of relief. With the Hokage’s personal approval, the project was firmly secured.

"Hokage-sama, when will the Student Council members be chosen?" he pressed.

"Why not merge the selection with the practical portion of the final exam?" Hiruzen suggested after a pause.

"This semester?" Kitazawa blinked in surprise.

The Hokage nodded. He had been keeping a close eye on Naruto’s training and knew the boy would have the Rasengan mastered by then. With that in hand, Naruto’s chances at first place were all but guaranteed—even against older competitors.

"Understood," Kitazawa said, before asking, "And... who do you think should serve as Student Council President?"

"Hmm," Hiruzen mused with a chuckle. "Naruto shone in this event, but Sasuke and the others also did well. The exams will decide."

Kitazawa’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly he sighed. He already understood the Hokage’s intent—Hiruzen clearly leaned toward Naruto, otherwise he wouldn’t have named him first.

"I’ll take my leave now. No need to see me off—go on with the event," Hiruzen said, and vanished in a flicker.

Kitazawa turned back, his gaze instinctively finding Naruto. The boy bustled about energetically, fulfilling his duties as judge and scorekeeper since he wasn’t competing himself.

At noon the competition paused for lunch, then resumed at two. By late afternoon, it was over.

"Students who answered ten questions correctly, please come forward!" Inuzuka Hana announced. "Your prizes will be presented by Kitazawa-sensei!"

Seven students stepped up. Kitazawa scanned the group and recognized only one—Haruno Sakura.

"Shikamaru, your questions were way too hard!" Ino complained, having been stopped at the eighth question.

Choji scratched his head. "I only got five right."

"That’s because you don’t pay attention in class," Shikamaru retorted lazily. "Only the last two were mine anyway."

"Really? Heh..." Choji laughed sheepishly.

"Five correct is already good," Lee said, clenching his fists. "I only managed two. My youth is still far too weak! I’ll run fifty laps tonight to make up for it!"

"What does that even have to do with this?" Kiba groaned. "Stop tying everything to youth!"

"Neji, such a pity—you almost got them all right," Tenten said.

"It’s fine," Neji replied calmly. "Participation matters more."

Naruto, watching Kitazawa hand out prizes, felt a pang of reluctance. "Kinda sad it’s ending..."

"This isn’t the last event," Shikamaru reassured him with a pat on the shoulder.

"You’re right!" Naruto bounced back instantly. "The next one will be even better!"

"When will that be?" Tenten asked eagerly. Winning prizes and skipping classes for fun competitions—what was there not to love?

"No idea," Naruto grinned. "Depends on Kitazawa-sensei."

"Speaking of, he’s calling your Student Council," Shino noted.

"Let’s go!" Naruto dashed on stage, with Sasuke, Neji, and Lee following behind. Shikamaru, Sakura, and the rest stayed put.

"I officially declare the Student Council’s first event a success!" Kitazawa announced.

Applause thundered across the courtyard.

"Thank you, everyone!" Naruto shouted, running in circles as if he were basking on a stage built just for him. The cheers washed over him, and for the first time, he felt a piece of his lifelong dream—acknowledgment from everyone—becoming real.

Sasuke smirked faintly, suppressing laughter. His own desire was different. He didn’t crave recognition—he craved praise. And unfortunately, today the applause was for the Council as a whole, not him alone.

Kitazawa caught his expression and sighed inwardly. Children really couldn’t hide their emotions.

Sasuke’s growth was tied to his emotions—pain had already fueled his strength. But happiness could, too.

Kitazawa stroked his chin. What would it take to make Sasuke so ecstatic that his Sharingan advanced?

Perhaps taking first place in the monthly exam. He hadn’t tasted that victory in a long time. If he crushed Yakumo and Naruto both, the praise would be intoxicating.

Still, such a scenario was difficult to arrange.

And if not joy... then pain. Kitazawa recalled how much stronger Sasuke had become after consecutive defeats. Suppressed emotions, when finally unleashed, burned the brightest.

"Maybe I should add sparring to the practical classes," Kitazawa mused. "Letting Sasuke get beaten down now and then might not be such a bad thing."

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